The night was stifling as the group walked away from the ruins of the shelter, the vision of Azrael and his words echoing in their minds. The feeling of having seen something forbidden never left them. The figure in the vision, that shadowy-eyed being in front of the Tree of Eden, was undoubtedly The Key, but they didn't know if it was an ally or a threat.
"We can't stay here. The Order might track us," Akihiko said, feeling the weight of what they had discovered.
Kael checked his device. "We're near a neutral city, Solaris. We could hide there and find information about The Key."
Helena frowned. "That city is a playground for mafias who don't obey any code. If they discover us, they'll sell us to the highest bidder."
"Then don't let them discover us," Isabella replied coldly. "We're no longer in a position to doubt."
Akihiko nodded. "We'll move quickly. No one lets their guard down."
The Lawless City: Solaris
At dawn, they arrived at Solaris. It was a place that never slept, where crime and commerce mingled in a deadly dance. Neon-lit streets concealed illegal transactions, and people spoke in whispers, always keeping an eye on their surroundings.
Kael had obtained forged documents for the group. "We have to split up. If we go together, we'll attract too much attention."
"Good idea," Thalos said. "I'll go with Akihiko to track down underworld contacts. Isabella and Helena, you search the old records. Kael and Aria, stay close to the information networks."
"Moving in groups will make us vulnerable to attack," Aria warned. "If there are ambushes, we won't have immediate reinforcements."
Akihiko looked at his team seriously. "We'll stay in communication. We're not here to fight, but to find answers."
Shadows of Solaris
In a speakeasy in the city, Akihiko and Thalos sat across from an informant named Lorian, a man with restless eyes and scars from past betrayals.
"We're looking for information on someone with a connection to the Tree of Eden," Thalos said in a neutral voice.
Lorian laughed. "Those are dangerous words in a city like this. But maybe I can help you... for a price."
Akihiko didn't flinch. "Say it."
Lorian leaned across the table. "Years ago, there was a group called the Children of the First Sin. They were fanatics who believed the Tree shouldn't be used, but destroyed. Their leader disappeared... and some say his lineage still exists."
"The descendant could be The Key," Thalos deduced. "Where do we find more information?"
Lorian smiled. "Go to the southern district. Look for a man named Orpheus. But I warn you: entering his territory is like signing your death warrant."
Akihiko stood up. "We'll take care of it."
The Lost Files
Meanwhile, Isabella and Helena had gained access to a hidden library, where forbidden documents were kept. Among the dusty records, they found fragments of information about the Children of the First Sin.
"Here it is," Isabella whispered. "Decades ago, the group tried to destroy the Tree, but they were eradicated by the Order of the Eternal Night."
Helena read softly. "Their leader, a man known as Ezra Caelum, vanished without a trace. Some believe he's dead, others say his bloodline still lives on."
"If her bloodline still exists, then The Key could be her descendant," Isabella said. "But if the Order knows about it too... she could be in danger."
Just then, they heard footsteps approaching. "They found us," Helena said, readying her weapons.
Orpheus, the Guardian of the Past
Akihiko and Thalos arrived in the southern district, a place where even conventional mafias didn't dare operate. They entered an old, dilapidated theater, where a figure waited for them in the shadows.
Orpheus was an elderly man with one eye and an imposing presence. "You've come looking for answers. But you won't like what you hear."
Akihiko looked at him coldly. "We know The Key is a descendant of Ezra Caelum. If you know where he is, tell us."
Orpheus let out a bitter laugh. "And what will they do when they find him? Save him? Or kill him?"
Thalos frowned. "We're not assassins."
Orpheus looked at them silently. "Then I'll tell you the truth: The Key doesn't want to be found. And if the Order is after you, it means time is running out."
"Tell us where it is," Akihiko insisted.
Orpheus sighed and stood up. "Prepare yourselves for what's to come. The truth about The Key is darker than you imagine."
Before he could continue, the sound of gunfire and the roar of an explosion shook the theater.
"They found us," Thalos said, drawing his weapon.
Orpheus smiled bitterly. "Then I suppose the time has come to see if you're really ready to know the truth."
The Key's fate was about to be revealed, but first they had to survive the hunt they had unleashed.